"I didnt know whether Wayne was crazy or a genius. I knew something was there, but I couldnt get a handle on it. We were playing some club outside of Boston. After the gig, I got a bottle of cognac and went back to his hotel room and we drank. And we talked for hours. And I began to see that there were word games that Wayne would play. His whole approach was much more like poetry, if anything, than how we normally perceive standard conversation. His way of speaking was on a much higher plane. I did come to the conclusion that he was a genius, not crazy."
Herbert Jeffrey Hancock is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. Hancock soon joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the post-bop sound. In the 1970s, he experimented with jazz fusion, funk, and electro styles using a wide array of
"[B]y the time I actually heard , I started picking that stuff out; my ear was happening. I could hear stuff and thats when I really learned some much farther-out voicings – like the harmonies I used on – just being able to do that. I really got that from Clare Fischers arrangements for the Hi-Los. Clare Fischer was a major influence on my harmonic concept... he and Bill Evans, and and , finally. You know, thats where it came from."
Herbie Hancock"Im not a chauffeur. Nobody would have bought any of my records if I were. Id have had nothing to say. Im supposed to be presenting things to the public, not accepting requests. I call the shots. They dont have to like it. I really wanted to develop my career in such a way that I have the freedom to do what I want to do, and not have that considered bizarre. I think Im finally at that point. People are no longer surprised when I come out with something different. Ive done it enough now. Thats what Ive wanted all this time."
Herbie Hancock"Hey, man; I would never dare to sing alone and unaided. I mean, nobody would want to hear the sound of my natural voice. But by singing through this new machine, I can mix what I sing with what I play on the synthesizer and it comes out sounding like you hear it on Sunlight. [...] What it all means is that I can sing "I love you, baby" down while playing different notes with the same rhythm up on the synthesizer ... Now any keyboard player who can coordinate his playing with his singing can sing anything he wants to ... and be able to do all the things singers cant do that instrumentalists can."
Herbie Hancock"A few months ago, Wayne Shorter and I were being interviewed after performing in a quartet at the . Before any questions were asked, the interviewer remarked that in previous interviews, responses from Wayne "tripped him out" so much that he would be discovering new meanings in Waynes words for several days. He said that it wasnt just what Wayne said but how he said it that did the trick, and that he was looking forward to another mind-blowing experience. Even though I was the other interviewee, I was also looking forward to Waynes profoundly creative and thought-provoking reactions to the questions. Reactions, not just answers, that are chock-full of wisdom. In his jovial way, and with an innately uncanny sense, Wayne says what a person needs to hear in order to expand himself. No, its even better than that. Its more like, you feel that Wayne has gleaned deeper meaning from a question by using it as a springboard for an answer that will blow your socks off and perhaps change your life for the better. As a matter of fact, you might start to think, Wow, I didnt know my question had so much in it."
Herbie Hancock"redefined swing for modern jazz pianists for the latter half of the 20th century up until today. I consider him to be the major influence that formed my roots in jazz piano playing. He mastered the balance between technique, hard blues grooving, and tenderness. Youll find Oscar Petersons influence in the generations that come after him. No one will ever be able to take his place."
Herbie Hancock"A lot of times I would let Herbie play no chords at all, just solo in the middle register and let the bass anchor that, and the shit sounded good as a motherfucker, because Herbie knew he could do that. See, Herbie was the step after and Thelonious Monk, and I havent heard anyone yet who has come after him."
Herbie Hancock